Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Lexus tops dependability study, Buick ranks No. 3

Lexus achieved the highest ranking in vehicle dependability among all car brands in J.D. Power’s 2018 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, while Buick topped the mass-market brands by coming in at No. 3 overall.

The study measures the number of problems experienced over the past 12 months by the original owners of 2015 model-year vehicles. Lexus drivers reported 99 problems per 100 vehicles, while Buick drivers reported 116 problem per 100 cars.

Porsche was the No. 2 brand overall, followed by Buick, with Infiniti at No. 4, Kia at No. 5, Chevrolet and Hyundai tied for No. 6, BMW and Toyota tied for No. 8, and Lincoln and Nissan tied for No. 10.

Overall vehicle dependability improved 9 percent from 2017, the first time the industry score has improved since 2013. And mass-market brands continue to close the gap between their more expensive counterparts.

Dave Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power, said the findings show U.S. consumers are generally satisfied with their cars.

“For the most part, automotive manufacturers continue to meet consumers’ vehicle dependability expectations,” Sargent said in a statement. “A 9 percent improvement is extremely impressive, and vehicle dependability is, without question, at its best level ever.”

Infotainment problems continue to draw the most complaints, with voice recognition and Bluetooth connectivity leading the list.

Jonathan Banks, vice president of vehicle analysis and analytics at J.D. Power, said dependability rankings can affect sales figures for new cars and the re-sale value of used vehicles.

“Strong dependability scores not only improve demand for used vehicles, but also are a contributor to higher residual values,” Banks said, also in a statement. “Improving dependability ultimately supports new vehicle sales and provides a better perception of the brand.”

Other findings in the study included Fiat being identified as the most improved brand, with its owners reporting 106 fewer problems per 100 cars this year than they did in the 2017 version of the study.

Infiniti jumped from 29th to 4th in the rankings and Nissan drivers reported 37 fewer problems per 100 cars than their counterparts in 2017 did. Ford drivers reported 31 fewer problems per 100 cars than they did in the 2017 study.